"Kelly, what are you doing here?" Donna asked as Kelly walked into the kitchen
"I'm sorry, didn't know I wasn't allowed in my own kitchen." Kelly scoffed
"David said you were going to see Dylan today." Donna paused, Kelly gave no reaction, "It's been two days. He needs you."
"No, he doesn't. He's staying at the Walshes... With Brenda." Kelly let out a frustrated sigh
"Oh, Kelly snap out of it!" Donna cried, "He's staying with Brandon, his best friend! He's staying with Jim and Cindy who are watching over him. His father just died and he needs parents... and... he needs you! Don't let your insecurities take over. I know that you and Dylan have been going strong and it scares you because you have something to lose... but what happened between you, Dylan and Brenda, isn't going to repeat. The situation now is much bigger than that."
"Guess, I'm just that shallow, huh." Kelly groaned
"Kelly!" Donna yelled
"I wouldn't know what to say..." Kelly eventually said "Dylan and I... we don't really face these kinds of situations... we escape them."
"You don't have to say anything.. Just be there." Donna assured
"Hey..." Brenda greeted, walking into Dylan's room, "How's it going?"
"It's going... although I don't think I can take another day of Brandon and your Dad talking about sports." Dylan groaned
"You and me both." Brenda laughed
"Thanks by the way." Dylan nodded, "When Brandon suggested this arrangement.. I didn't think you'd be cool with it."
"...Our history is... history. You can borrow my parents whenever you need." She smiled, "Heard from Kelly?"
"No." Dylan murmured
"Oh... I'm sure she'll come when she's ready." Brenda assured
"I don't know, Bren. Kelly and I being strong for one another isn't our strong suit. I'm afraid the weight of this whole thing plus the added issue of me being here, will stir up Kelly's insecurities and well, it'll push her away."
"Well, why don't you call her? Talk to her about it?" Brenda asked
"I'm scared... she'll pull away."
"How you doing?" Brandon asked as he and Dylan had lunch.
"Better than the last few days... It's still all a blur. I'm not ready to go to school yet so don't ask."
"Wasn't going to." Brandon assured
"Thanks. Just can't face reality. You know despite the highs and lows... my father was my soulmate. The good moments were the happiest times of my life. I've never felt that bond with anyone... well, except-" Dylan was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Hey..." Kelly said as Dylan opened up The Walshes front door.
"Hey!" He smiled, "Didn't think you'd show. Was just thinking about you."
"How you doing?"
"I'm doing..." He stared her down
"I'm sorry I didn't come by sooner, I just didn't know how to handle it. Didn't want to make it worse."
"I get it... but I'm glad you're here."
"...I don't know what to say to you, Dylan." Kelly sighed
"Hey, you don't have to say anything... I've got Brandon, Brenda, Jim and Cindy all trying to get me to talk it out all day long. That's not how I operate. And you know that. That's why I need you, to help me forget... help me escape."
"I can do that." She smiled "Come on, let's go for a drive."
"I can't... Jim's stunting my freedom."
"I'll drive, then." Kelly grinned
"You just wanna drive my car." He eyed her closely
"Does it matter?"
"Let's get out of here." he grinned
Kelly and Dylan drove all the way to Joshua Tree.
"It's just a little uncomfortable for me..." She said as she placed their takeaway burgers on a picnic towel "and I know that sounds incredibly selfish after what you've been through. But-"
"-Listen, Kel." Dylan interjected, "Don't use this as an excuse to pull away."
"I'm not-"
"-Yeah you are." He stopped her. "I know. I'd do the same thing when it comes to you."
"Guess we're afraid of losing what we have."
"Yeah. And I'm afraid if I hold on too tight, that's exactly what will happen."
"So you've been pulling away?" She asked
"I'm trying to grieve, Kelly. I gotta do it on my own. But that doesn't mean I'm pushing you away. You're pushing yourself away."
"Yeah but to stay at your ex's house?"
"I'm staying at my friend's house. And again, don't use this to pull away."
"Fine."
"Fine." He stared her up and down,
"What?" She asked
"Just lookin', I don't wanna talk anymore."
"Okay... we don't have to." She slid over to his side and put her arms around him. He rested in her arms, feeling safe, like the world had stopped, her touch made him forget everything around. She held him as his head rested on her chest. And she realized, that's all she had to do... just be there.
"Let's just ride... ride out into... somewhere. Just get out of here and... go, you and me. We don't need anything else." Dylan whispered, looking up at her.
"...Maybe after high school." She smirked and he chuckled. It was those little, tender moments they shared, where they didn't have to say much. They knew what each other was thinking, it made them feel alive.
"Where have you been?" Jim yelled as Dylan got home at 2 in the morning
"Was out with Kelly." Dylan scratched his head, "I'm beat... can we talk in the morning."
"Dylan!" Jim warned,
"Cut him some slack..." Cindy pleaded, "He's been through a lot."
"Dylan..." Jim sighed at Cindy, "I understand how difficult this is for you, but it is my job to take care of you when you're under my supervision. Especially now with your the father... I'm sorry, but there are rules here that Brandon and Brenda have to follow while they're living under my roof. You can't waltz in here at 2am! I'm trying to teach my kids to respect the household rules. So you will too."
"You're not my father alright!" Dylan yelled
"I'm the closest thing you have to one!" Jim warned
"Jim... let him sleep." Cindy said quietly. As Dylan stormed into his room
"I can't handle him." Jim said the next morning, "He has no concept of time, no respect for the rules. I'm trying to raise my kids with basic principles, I don't need him screwing it up... He's not even dating our daughter anymore."
"Jim, he is still Brandon's best friend. He is still a kid, that we have fed and taken care of for 2 years. Just like all the beverly kids. I'm not turning my back on them." Cindy warned
"Well, we gotta find another arrangement. Maybe Jackie can take him. He's dating her daughter, and she's a lot less hands on than we are. They'll get along nicely."
"Jackie has David and a baby already. She doesn't need an extra child in that house to watch over. As wonderful it is for David to still be a part of their family even with the separation, it can't be easy for her. Kelly alone is hard work."
"Then what, Cindy?" Jim cried anxiously
"...Maybe we can discuss Dylan moving back to his house. When he's ready, if he proves he's ready. And we'll come up with a system, to check on him. Brandon and Kelly can both go over there as well as us. As long as he's not doing anything he shouldn't be. There's no reason why he can't have his freedom back."
After a week had passed, Dylan was back into his own house. As promised, he started going back to school and he refrained from any substance abuse and any other activities that Jim warned would rid him of his freedom. Things were looking a lot better. Andrea had encouraged him to start writing, which was very therapeutic. Kelly's insecurities had mellowed after the senior poll incident. Dylan finally realizing what their connection was all along... she saved his life with one phone call, they understood each other's troubled pasts, they helped each other escape dark times and replace them with adventures their wild souls went on together. She was his soulmate.
"Pizza's here!" Kelly called out, as Dylan came out from his bedroom
"Good, I'm starving." He slumped himself on the couch, "You know what, Kel?"
"What?" She asked, while she too, dug in, lifting up a slice of pizza to her mouth
"You made me feel alive. Before you, I was searching for you. I was searching for this feeling. And you were here all along. So thank you... for being here... for making me feel alive." His words warmed her heart.
"So smush, where do you want to feel alive next?" She grinned as she pecked him
"Well, I've been doing a lot of thinking... about the future and... I'm thinking Berkeley."
"Really?" She asked,
"Yeah... close enough to California university." He grinned
"So you wanna stay close to me, huh?" her lips curled into a smile
"That's all I ever wanna do." He pulled her in for a kiss.
AU: I didn't include Senior Poll scenes because I thought it was beautifully done on the show and I didn't feel I needed to do it justice. However I very much want it included in this story so there are hints.
I am also considering adding on season 4 to this story as it really delves into the DK dynamic and their tumultuous relationship. I enjoy writing the highs and lows of their passion and I think season 4 really has more depth into it as Dylan and Kelly were no longer in the honeymoon phase then, and we really saw how much power they had with one another. Let me know if you guys are up for it :)